Blog #1 - Mood

       I am reading the book Mokingjay, the third book in the Hunger Games series by Suzanne Colins. The book starts off as an immediate continuation of the second book in the series "Catching Fire" when the main character, Katniss, is rescued from the Quarter Quell (75th Hunger Games) by District 13, what was supposed to be only a legend, and Haymitch. The book starts as Katniss is recovering from the Quell, going in and out of conciousness. When she finally regains her composure, she is confused, and irrational. She doesn't know who else has, or hasn't been rescued. She later finds out that Haymitch, who she thought to be a very close ally to her, had been in on the plan to rescue Katniss with District 13 and make her the Mockingjay, the symbol of the revolution and rebellion of all the other districts, and hadn't told her. She becomes furious and hostile, attacking Haymitch and already causing problems. When she had simmered down, she is informed of who has been brought to District 13, such as her mother, sister, and fellow competitors in the Quell. She finds out that Peeta, her ally since the begining and "lover" had been captured by the capital, ordered by president Snow. If this wasn't enough to distraught her, she is also informed about the uprising in the majority of the districts, and the fire bombing attacks on other districts and her own home alike.

       So right off the bat, the author creates a mood of distress, anger, confusion and chaos throughout all settings and characters involved in the story. The tragety of the death of so many people, all around her world, and the fact that Peeta is now in Capitol hands, possibly being tortured, or worse, causes an overwhelming sense of sadness and distress in the character, and this reflects on the readers feelings, making you feel sympathetic for Katniss. You can tell it has a very strong effect on her sense of judgement, because she mentions while she wakes up for the last time, fully recovered (physically at least) that it would be sensible to kill Peeta for his own protection. Her state of mental health shows again when she tells the reader that she is given a process to keep her thoughts together. Increasing in difficulty as the procedure goes on: "My name is Katniss Everdeen. I am seventeen years old. My home is District 12. I was in the Hunger Games. I escaped. The capitol hates me..." (Colins, 37-38 , MockingJay) Although it gives a slight glimmer of humor, it doesn't take away from the obvious severity of her condition. I am interested to see how Katniss evolves to carry the added weight that has been placed on her shoulders, and what other unfortunate things happen to her. But thusfar, there isn't much one could think that could happen next other than the inevidable conflict that will slowly unfold between the Capitol and District 13 *Man vs Man*